The Bible, an ancient text revered by millions, often presents verses that spark debate and require deep theological understanding. James 4:5 is one such verse, notable for its varied translations and the questions it raises about human nature and divine will. This article delves into the meaning of James 4:5, particularly focusing on the interpretation of “lust” as presented in the King James Version (KJV) and comparing it with other translations like the English Standard Version (ESV), New International Version (NIV), and New Living Translation (NLT). By examining the context and related scriptures, we aim to understand what the Bible truly conveys about the spirit within us and its inclinations.
James 4:5 has been translated in several ways, leading to different understandings of its core message. Let’s look at a few prominent translations:
- King James Version (KJV): “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”
- English Standard Version (ESV): “Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?”
- New International Version (NIV): “Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?”
- New Living Translation (NLT): “What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?”
- New American Standard Bible (NASB): “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?”
The central point of contention lies in whether the verse describes God’s jealous yearning for the spirit He placed in us, or if it speaks to the inherent human tendency to “lust to envy.” The KJV stands out by using the phrase “lusteth to envy,” which directly addresses the concept of lust.
To understand which translation best captures the intended meaning, we must consider the immediate context of James 4 and related scriptures. Verses 1-4 of James 4 set the stage by discussing the source of conflict and strife among people:
Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
These verses clearly indicate that “lusts” are the root cause of internal and external conflicts. The phrase “lusts that war in your members” suggests an internal struggle driven by desires. In this context, James 4:5, as translated by the KJV, appears to align more closely with the preceding verses. It suggests that the “spirit that dwelleth in us” is inclined towards lust and envy, reflecting a natural human condition rather than God’s disposition.
The Apostle Paul echoes a similar sentiment when describing the internal conflict within humans in Romans 7:
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Paul’s description of “sin that dwelleth in me” and “another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind” resonates with the KJV translation of James 4:5. Both passages highlight an inherent human struggle against inner desires and sinful tendencies. This “law of sin” within our members can be understood as the driving force behind the “lust” mentioned in James 4:1 and potentially in James 4:5, depending on the interpretation.
The idea that humanity is inherently prone to err is also found in the Old Testament:
Isa 63:17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
Psa 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
These verses suggest a divine acknowledgment of human fallibility and a call for repentance and return to God. This aligns with the interpretation that James 4:5, in the KJV, points to the natural human inclination towards lust and envy, a state from which we need redemption.
While some translations emphasize God’s jealous love, the KJV’s interpretation, focusing on “lusteth to envy,” provides a stark view of human nature, consistent with other biblical passages. It underscores the need for divine grace and intervention, as highlighted by Jesus’ words:
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
This verse emphasizes human dependence on God, reinforcing the idea that overcoming inherent sinful tendencies, like lust and envy, requires divine assistance. Furthermore, Ecclesiastes speaks of the human experience as inherently flawed:
Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.
This “experience of evil” can be seen as encompassing the internal struggles with desires and lusts, serving to humble humanity and drive us towards seeking God. Psalm 107 further illustrates this cycle of distress and divine deliverance:
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
This passage depicts humanity reaching “their wits’ end” due to troubles, turning to God in distress, and finding deliverance. This cycle reflects the theological perspective that human nature, inclined towards “lust,” leads to distress, from which divine intervention offers a path to peace and salvation.
Finally, considering Genesis, we see early depictions of human nature as inherently flawed:
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
These verses paint a picture of humanity’s innate inclination towards evil from a young age. This aligns with the KJV’s interpretation of James 4:5, suggesting that the “spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy” as a reflection of this inherent human condition.
In conclusion, while various translations of James 4:5 offer different perspectives, the King James Version’s rendering, “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy,” when understood within the broader context of James 4 and related scriptures, provides a compelling interpretation. It highlights the concept of “lust” not as solely sexual desire, but as a broader inclination towards envy and sinful desires inherent in human nature. This interpretation underscores the biblical understanding of human fallibility and the constant need for divine grace and redemption. Understanding “what lust means” in James 4:5, therefore, is crucial for grasping a fundamental aspect of the human condition as depicted in the Bible.
